Photos by Keith R. Cerny No injuries were reported in an early morning fire Friday at a small apartment complex at State Ave. and 9th St. Sixteen people received temporary house help from the Red Cross.

Search warrant rises from

the ashes



By ERIC MULLENS

ALAMOSA — Alamosa firefighters battled a potentially deadly fire Friday morning in a small apartment complex located at the corner of State Ave. and 9th St., but luckily no injuries were reported and all residents were able to get out of their homes.

Alamosa Fire Department was dispatched at 7:21 a.m. to 601 9th. St., and remained on the scene until 10:40 in the morning Friday. Deputy Fire Chief Tony Bobicki said Friday afternoon the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. He theorized that a broken water line may have caused an electrical short circuit in the common ceiling area above two corner apartments. Bobicki said during the after incident investigation firefighters looked at one utility storage closet located near apartment # 8, which was venting heavy smoke upon their arrival as a possible ignition site. But, he said, a hole in the wall of that room drew much of the smoke from the ceiling area and was not found to be the point of the fire’s origin.

Two corner apartments were the most heavily damaged, and Bobicki said the causal investigation will be concentrated in those areas. Another apartment, #7, sustained smoke and water damage and during the evacuation of the nearly 30 residents, suspected marijuana plants were observed by Ron Rogers, a volunteer firefighter, who is also an Alamosa police officer.

The police department was notified and APD Lt. Duane Oakes requested a search warrant which was granted and executed later in the day. Oakes said six marijuana plants were confiscated and the occupant of the apartment, Carlos Trujillo, 27, was interviewed by authorities Friday. Oakes said Trujillo stated the plants had been growing for about two months.

Neither police or fire investigators believe the indoor grow operation had any connection to the fire.

Oakes said charges, including the a class four felony of cultivation of marijuana, are pending against Trujillo and the case has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office. Trujillo may also be charged with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; both municipal-court petty offenses.

Lisa Werts of the San Luis Valley chapter of the American Red Cross said in total 29 people were displaced by the early morning blaze and the organization is providing assistance to 16 individuals; 14 adults and two children, who cannot return to their homes until power and water service has been restored to the buildings.

The owner of the building, David Garcia, was contacted by authorities early Friday and indicated he was coming to Alamosa to get repair operations underway.

The Red Cross is providing temporary housing and food assistance to those displaced by the fire. Werts said other residents were able to find accommodations with friends and family. One dog and eight cats, including young kittens were also displaced by the incident, and while Red Cross regulations do not allow for housing for displaced pets; both the local humane society and Alamosa Valley Veterinary Clinic, had donated food for the animals. Werts said all of the pet are being cared for by private individuals.

Two fire engines, one ladder truck and the AFD rescue truck were used in the incident and 18 volunteer firefighters responded in the cold single digit weather Friday morning.